Colonial Spanish accounts from sixteenth-century Yucatán describe a remarkable Maya ceremony: at the New Year rites of certain years, participants walked barefoot over glowing coals. The rite is linked with the years named by the day sign Kawak, and AURYN's "fire dance" design refers to it.
The New Year rites
The Maya year of 365 days ended with five unlucky days, the Wayeb, followed by New Year ceremonies. Four day signs could name the years, and each brought its own rites, directions and colours. Bishop Diego de Landa, whose sixteenth-century account of Yucatán is a principal source for Maya customs, describes the ceremonies of each year-bearer.
Walking over fire
Landa, supported by other colonial reports such as the Relación de Valladolid, records that in the ceremonies of Kawak years a great fire was built and people walked over its embers. The rite was understood as a way of turning aside the misfortunes of the coming year.
Kawak years
Kawak, the nineteenth day sign, is associated with storms and rain. Kawak years were considered dangerous, which may explain the dramatic purifying rite.
Fire-walking in jewellery
A Maya fire-dance design references this New Year rite and the calendar that framed it. See also the Bacabs, the sky-bearers honoured in the same year ceremonies.
You can see the AURYN design, or read our guide to the twenty Maya day signs.
